Wayne Thiebaud

This catalogue accompanies the first UK show of Wayne Thiebaud's quintessentially postwar American paintings.

Wayne Thiebaud (1920–2021) is considered to be one of the greatest and most original American artists of the 20th century. This publication accompanies the first-ever museum show of his work in the United Kingdom, to be held at the Courtauld Gallery. The exhibition is accompanied by this richly illustrated and scholarly catalogue, which showcases research findings on Thiebaud's early still lifes. It is underpinned by research into the archive of objects and papers held by the Thiebaud Foundation, which, although well organised, has yet to be fully explored.

Wayne Thiebaud: American Still Life will showcase the ways in which Thiebaud recast the genre of still life for the modern age and created powerful images of American consumer culture during the years of postwar expansion and optimism. It charts the moment when Thiebaud found his artistic voice, creating a highly original way of painting and drawing to express his vision of modern American consumer culture, which he considered a vital subject for contemporary painting.

Thiebaud saw his work as continuing the radical legacy of earlier still-life paintings by Chardin, Manet, Cézanne, and others. He believed in the importance of commonplace objects that might otherwise be overlooked or considered kitsch. His work transforms hot dogs, lemon meringue pies, and glossy cream cakes into subjects of profound modern painting. The exhibition and catalogue feature rarely lent works from private collections and major museum collections in the USA, including the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, as well as the Wayne Thiebaud Foundation.

Published by Paul Holberton Publishing

Exhibition Schedule:

The Courtauld Gallery, London
(10 October 2025–18 January 2026)